[net.travel] Trip to Canada

pmn@ihuxr.UUCP (06/24/83)

My fiance and I took a trip to Canada last August (we became engaged
on the return trip) and really enjoyed it. We drove up through Wis.
and Minnesota with the intent of circumnavigating Lake Superior. We
found so much to do (with some help from a AAA TripTik) that we
never made it past Thunder Bay. We spent several idyllic days in the
Quetico Provincial Park area which is full of lakes that are great
for fishing and canoeing. There are several canoe outfitters in
nearby Atikokan who will set you up for a several day
canoeing/fishing trip if you like. Unfortunately, the highway
leading into Atikokan and Quetico is in incredibly bad shape and
will require lots of patience if you wish to visit that area.

Also, if you're into backpacking or scuba, Isle Royale just south of
the Minnesota border has much to offer. For the diver, Lake Superior
is loaded with sunken ships from the days of less sophisticated
navigation equipment. For the backpacker, Isle Royale itself is
almost completely wild, with trails and shelters for packers to use.
The island is a famous refuge for moose and other forms of wildlife.
Take the nature walk with the conservationist if you get the chance.

Finally, Thunder Bay itself is very pleasant small city. You might
spend a little time there just to unwind. Old Fort Williams is a
re-creation of a fort built by the Hudson's Bay Company back in the
fur trading days complete in almost every detail, including the
inhabitants of the fort who actually act out the parts they are
portraying. I have also heard since then that the Oriental cuisine
in Thunder Bay is excellent due to a large influx of Asians during
the building of the railroads that serve the iron industry.

All in all, it's a very nice area, though it's probably a bit out of
your way (unless you decide to take your return trip through there).
If you can't tell, I was quite impressed and would highly recommend
it to anyone passing near there. Enjoy your trip and be sure to post
any interesting bits of info you discover.

			Paul Nauman
			ihuxr!pmn

prgclb@ihuxm.UUCP (06/24/83)

Paul, sorry to hear you never made it past Thunder Bay.
The trip along the northern shore of Lake Superior is
beautiful!  I took the trip three years ago on
VIA Rail Canada's "Canadian," which hugs the shoreline
for well over 200 km east of Thunder Bay.
In fact, somewhere along that trip is a miniature
version of the Pennsylvania railroad's famous Horseshoe
Curve -- if you're sitting in the last car of the train,
you can see your engine on the other side of the bay.
Much of the same scenery can be seen by auto from a parallel
roadway.
				Carl Blesch
				Bell Labs - Naperville, Ill.
				IH 2A-159, (312) 979-3360
				ihuxm!prgclb